Abdominal supporter.



Patented Dec. 9, 1913.

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WHNESSES ATTORNEY COLUMBIA PLANOGXZAPH c0., WASHINGTON, D c.

E. M. DHALE.

ABDOMINAL SUPPORTEH,

APPLICATION FILED JULY29,1911

Patented Dec.'9, 1913.

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INVENTOR ATTORNEY COLUMBIA PLANOCIRAPH 410., WASHINGTON, D. c

ELIZABETH M. DHALE, OF FEUITVALE, CALIFORNIA.

ABDOMINAL SUPPORTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedDec. 9, 1913.

Application filed July 29, 1912. Serial No. 712,002.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELIZABETH M. DHALE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fruitvale, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Abdominal Supporters, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the present invention is to provide an abdominal supporter for use by very corpulent persons and those having weak abdominal muscles.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l is a front view of the supporter; Fig. 2 is a rear view of a modified form thereof; Fig. 3 is a side view of the same; Fig. 4 is a broken detail view of a pad detached; Figs. 5 and 6 are front views of a pocket showing in different positions a stay therein.

Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates my improved supporter provided with shoulder straps 2 detachably fastened, as shown at 50 for the purpose of suspending it from the shoulders of the wearer, and which is in two separable halves, laced together at the back, as shown at 3, and the front edges of which are secured by an ordinary corset fastening 5, but shorter than usual, and by hooks and eyes above and below said fastening, as shown at 4. The front portion of the main body of the garment is formed with vertical pockets 6 to receive flexible stays 7 extending to the extreme ends of said pockets, the lower portions of said pockets being provided with openings 8 slightly above the extreme lower ends of the pockets, through which the stays can be withdrawn if it is not desired to use the same.

Secured by hooks and eyes 9, 10, to one vertical edge of a flap 11, the other vertical edge of which is secured to, and extends laterally from the lower portion of each side of the main body, is an extension, consisting of three parts, a narrow inner part 12, a broader outer part 13 secured to the part 12 by laces 14, and the lower end of which is secured to the lower end of the part 12 by a buckle 15, and an upper part 16 secured at its lower edge to the upper edges of the parts 12 and 13 by laces 17, said parts 16 having on their outer edges hooks 18 adapted to engage eyes on the edges of the upper portions of said flaps 11, and on their inner edges respectively hooks 21 and eyes 22 adapted to engage each other. To afford greater strength and security, the

parts 12 and 13 are provided with straps 23, 24, having buckles 26, so that they can be buckled together and thus provide a very firm support for the abdomen. The outer edge of the part 13 on one side, as on the right, is provided with hooks 27, and the outer edge of the part 13 on the other side is provided with eyes 28 adapted to be engaged by said hooks 27, but if greater breadth be desired for the supporter across the front of the body, there is provided an insertible gore-shaped piece 30 of variable width having on the right-hand side eyes adapted to be engaged by the hooks 27, and on the lefthand side hooks adapted to engage the eyes 28. The insertible piece 30 has also attached by laces 32 to its upper edge a central upper supporting piece 33, having on the right-hand edge eyes 34, and on the left-hand edge hooks 35, adapted to engage respectively the hooks 21 and eyes 22 on the inner edges of the upper portions 16. For additional security the adjacent vertical edges of the pieces 16 and 33 are provided with eyelets 36 through which lacescan be passed to lace said edges together if desired. It will be understood that the parts 16 and 33 are secured to one another and to the upper portion of the supporter above, or outside of, said upper portion.

For the purpose of avoiding discomfort to the wearer while at the same time supporting the abdomen, there is provided for each half of the garment an elongated pad 37, contained within loops 38, extending from the flaps 11 and lower portions of the pieces 12 and 13. The upper portions of said pads extend almost vertically, or parallel with the sides of the garment, and are received within pockets 40 formed on the supporter and the lower portions extend horizontally at the bottom of the garment, their ends being directed toward each other, said pads 37 being suitably rounded at the junctures between said portions. The lower or inner ends of said pads are adjustably connected to one another by a hook and eye connection as shown at 41. As an additional support there is provided at each side of the garment a band 42 adapted to pass around the leg of the wearer, and connected at its ends to buckles 43, 44, attached respectively to the garment at its side and back, the mediate portion of the band being connected by a loop 45 to a loop 46, one end of which loop 46 is, by a hook and an eye, as shown at 47 detachably connected to the part 13 on that side of the garment. The band is also connected direct by a hook and an eye, as shown at 48, with the part 13. These bands 42 are suitably padded to avoid discomfort to the wearer.

It is necessary to use with this garment'a suitably conformed under-garment to prevent the supporting parts of the device, and especially those formed of metal, coming in direct contact with the-skin of the wearer.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 2 the upper portion of the supporter is omitted, this form of the invention being especially adapted for use by men.

49 indicates stocking supporters attached to the garment.

I claim 1. An abdominal supporter comprising a main body portion, flaps 11, each having a vertical edge securedto each side of the body portion, an extension detachably secured to another vertical edge of said flap and'comprising, detachably secured together, inner and outer portions 12, 13, the outer portions 13 of the two extensions being provided at their outer edges with means 27, 28, for se curing-them together, a gore-shaped piece 30 inserted between said outer edges and detachably connected to said last-named portions, two elongated pads 37, each having an approximately vertical portion and a horizontal portion, the ends of the horizontal portions being detachably connected to each other, means 38 for connecting each pad to the lower ends of the corresponding extension, and padded bands 42 adapted to pass between the legs of the wearer, and-detachably connected at their ends to the side and back respectively of the supporter, and at their mediate portions to the lower end of the extension on the corresponding side.

2; An abdominal supporter comprising a main body portion, flaps 11, each having a vertical edge secured to a side of the body portion, an extension detachably secured to another vertical edge of said flap and comtions, two elongated pads 37, each having an approximately vertical portion and a horizontal portion, the ends of the horizontal portions being detachably connected to each other, loops 38 around the pads connected to the lower ends of the extensions, padded bands 42 adapted to pass between the legs of the wearer, and detachably connected at their ends to the side and back re spectively of the supporter, a loop 45- around the mediate portion of each band, and a second loop 46 around the first loop, one end of which is detachably connected to the lower end of the extension on the corresponding side.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

ELIZABETH M; DHALE. WVitnesses F. M. WRIGHT, DJ B.-RICHARDS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for-five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington; D; 0. 

